Dr. Joseph Kim 

Surgical Oncologist
University of Kentucky and The Markey Cancer Center
Lexington, KY 40536
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Board Certified

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Dr. Joseph Kim is affiliated with University of Kentucky and Markey Cancer Center.

Fellowship Experience

John Wayne Cancer Institute

Joseph Kim, MD, FACS, is a gastrointestinal surgical oncologist at the University of Kentucky. He is an international HIPEC leader with vast experience in the procedure and major scholarly publications about it. In addition to his expertise with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC for peritoneal surface cancers, Dr. Kim is a specialist in the management of hepato-biliary-pancreatic disease.

Dr. Kim received his MD in 1998 from the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He trained in general surgery at the University of Cincinnati, and then completed a three-year fellowship in surgical oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA. Following his training, Dr. Kim joined the City of Hope National Medical Center in 2006, where he directed the upper gastrointestinal tumor surgery service. There, he also developed and directed the ACGME-accredited surgical oncology fellowship program. He directs the HIPEC program at the UK Markey Cancer Center, an NCI designated cancer center, as the Chief of Surgical Oncology.

Dr. Kim’s HIPEC publications include the book chapter “Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Mucinous Tumors of the Gastrointestinal Tract” (2016) published in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Prevention, Detection and Treatment (Nova Science); the book chapter “Diseases of the Peritoneum and Retroperitoneum” (2014) published in ACS Surgery: Principles and Practice (Decker), the only textbook bearing the imprimatur of the American College of Surgeons; the peer-reviewed article “Data from ACS NSQIP on CRS-HIPEC” (2014) published in JAMA Surgery by the American Medical Association; and the peer-reviewed article “Reduced Morbidity Following Cytoreductive Surgery and Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemoperfusion” (2004) published in Annals of Surgical Oncology by the Society of Surgical Oncology.

The UK Markey Cancer Center now offers hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a heated chemotherapy treatment, also known as a chemotherapy bath, delivered directly to the abdomen during surgery. Our multidisciplinary team typically uses HIPEC to treat patients with colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, appendix cancer, small intestinal cancer, stomach cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer.

How it works

Before receiving HIPEC treatment, your doctor will remove visible tumors in the abdominal area with cytoreductive surgery (CRS). Once these tumors have been removed, a HIPEC treatment will be delivered to the abdomen to destroy any cancer cells that are not visible to the eye. This procedure typically takes between 30 and 90 minutes to complete, followed by removal of the chemotherapy and closing the incision.

Side effects of heated chemotherapy

The HIPEC procedure advances chemotherapy treatment but without the side effects that are common to intravenous chemotherapy. Since heated chemotherapy drugs stay within the abdomen, the approach minimizes exposure to chemotherapy to the rest of the body. By limiting the exposure, doctors can safely treat patients with higher doses of chemotherapy. HIPEC treatment does not produce the common side effects of traditional chemotherapy such as hair loss and nausea. Applying the heat therapies directly to the abdominal area allows HIPEC treatment to avoid the downsides of traditional chemotherapy.

Recovery after treatment

In most cases, our patients have a hospital length of stay of approximately 7-10 days. In some cases, the hospitalization could be shorter or possibly longer. Following the procedure, our goal is to get our patients back to their normal routines as soon as possible. After you return home from your stay in the hospital, you will be able to eat regular food and participate in routine minor activities. It is important that you stay active within your limits and maintain good nutrition.

 

FAQ

Q: What is CRS?

A: Cytoreductive surgery, commonly referred to as CRS, is the removal of all sites of cancer within the abdominal cavity. This surgery is performed prior to receiving the HIPEC chemotherapy treatment.

Q: How is CRS different from regular surgery for abdominal cancer?

A: CRS is quite different from standard operations for abdominal cancer. In most instances, patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, a disease that has spread in the peritoneal cavity, are not offered operations since these patients are considered to have unresectable disease, meaning their cancer cannot be removed with surgery.

However, CRS can be very effective when performed on carefully selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. The goal of an operating surgeon is to remove all visible cancer in the abdominal cavity. Since most surgeons have limited surgical experience with peritoneal carcinomatosis, it is very important to find surgeons with years of experience in this setting.

Q: What types of cancer is HIPEC used to treat?

A: Our team typically uses HIPEC to treat patients with colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, appendix cancer, small intestinal cancer, stomach cancer, and primary peritoneal cancer.

Q: Why is HIPEC preferred over traditional chemotherapy?

A: Traditional chemotherapy is given through the intravenous route to reach the cancer targets. HIPEC allows direct contact between the chemotherapy drugs and microscopic cells that remain in the peritoneal cavity. This minimizes the rest of the body’s exposure to the chemotherapy while allowing doctors to safely increase the chemotherapy dose in targeted areas.

Q: Is HIPEC experimental? Does health insurance cover it?

A: HIPEC is not experimental and studies have verified that it is an effective and safe procedure in experienced medical centers. This treatment is covered by insurance, and our team has experience with helping both in-state and out-of-state patients obtain insurance coverage.

Q: What is the advantage of having this procedure done at UK HealthCare?

A: At UK HealthCare, our multidisciplinary team (surgery, radiology, pathology, medical oncology, social work) has decades of combined experience in providing CRS and HIPEC for patients. For every procedure, we carefully consider the best route to getting our patients back to their normal routine as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

Testimonials of Patients Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC by Dr. Joseph Kim

Mr. Scott S

Mr. Scott S

“I just can’t speak highly enough about Dr. Kim. I absolutely love him and his staff, and my wife says she loves him too.”

Brian’s Story

Brian’s Story

Mr. Brian D is a 48-year-old Suffolk County Police Officer and father of five. He has let his hair grow out, and is enjoying taking care of his children at home.

Ms. Annette T

Ms. Annette T

“HIPEC worked for me, and if it is a possibility for others, I think they should see if it will work for them. I can’t thank Dr. Kim enough for saving my life with his expertise. How could I be more grateful?”

Adriana’s Story

Adriana’s Story

“After my treatment at Stony Brook, I had a CT scan that showed no sign of cancer.”

Mrs. Rosa M

Mrs. Rosa M

“My doctors in Spain told me there was no treatment for my cancer.”